Car-lighting system.



H. G. THOMPSON. OAR LIGHTING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED we. 22, was.

' Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEETS-8HEET 1.

lNVENTOj? BY g MIME/S Y H. G. THOMPSON.

GAR LIGHTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22, 1908.

1,070,080. Pat nted Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS o Tao TATES PATENT HARRISOiiT THOMPSON, 0F GLEN RIDGE, NEV] JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SAFETY CAR HEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, A, CGRPOBATION 0F JERSEY.

CAR-LIGHTIN G SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Application filed August 22, 1908. Serial No. 449,825.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I'IARRISON G. THOMP- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Li hting Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to systems of electrical distribution, and, with regard to the more specific features thereof, to the charging of storage or secondary batteries.

One of the objects thereof is to provide simple and practical means for the efficient charging of a storage battery.

Another object is to provide reliable and sensitive means of the above type in which the charging generator is rendered inoperative upon its functions being accomplished.

A further object is to provide automati cally acting means adapted to permit the generator to resume action independent of the speed at which the train is running.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of cle ments and arrangement. of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

ln the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a diagrammatic view of one of the various possible embodiments of this invention; and Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a modification thereof.

Similar reference characters refer to .similar parts throughout both views.

As tending to render certain features of this invention more readily and fully understood, it may here be noted that I have found that in the charging of storage batteries any current forced through the same after they are fully charged is not only wasted but exerts a harmful effect upon the batteries. Vi hen, therefore, the batteries are fully charged, it is desirable to substantially eliminate the charging current, as the batteries are then in condition for efficient service. It is desirable, however, and particularly in the case of generators driven from car axles,'that means he provided wherebytli generator may resume action whenever necessary and at whatever speed the same may be driven at such time. The attainment of apparatus to accomplish these results without the use of complicated mechanism and yet without sacrifice of sensitiveness in action is amongthe dominant objects of this invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a generator 1, the field 2 of which has connected therein a variable resistance device 3 comprising 1n the form here shown, a plurality of setsof carbon disks 4, the aggregate resistance of which is adapted to vary with the pressure imposed thereon. This pressure is controlled by a yoke 5 having a portion 6 conductively connecting the resist ance elements and a portion 7 mounted upon a lever 8 pivoted at 9. The position of this yoke is controlled by a spring 10 urging the same in one direction and a core 11 connected to the lever 8 and tending upon the surrounding coil 12 being energized to urge the yoke in the opposite direction, the move ment of these parts being retarded by the dashpot 12 Coil 12 is positioned in the main external circuit of the generatorl and this circuitis branched at 13 to provide a continuously closed fine wire coil 14 about a core 15. The remaining branch of this exi ternal circuit leads through a coil 16 to a terminal 17 adapted to be connected with a. terminal 18 by a contact member 19 upon the core 15 being drawn upwardly by the force of the surrounding coils. From terminal 18 a circuit leads through a storage or secondary battery 20 to the remaining pole of the generator. In this manner upon the force of coil 14 reaching a predetermined value depending upon the speed of the train the core 15 is raised, thus closing .the circuit through the-coil 16 which maintains the switch comprising cont-act member 19 in closed condition and permits the generator to charge the battery. In the event of the battery voltage exceeding that of the generator, back discharge is prevented by a tendency of the current to reverse in the coil 16, thus acting differentially with respect to the coil 14 and permitting the core 15 to drop. The current, moreover, is maintained substantially constant, due to the factthat any tendency of the same to increase above normal swings-theyoke 5 away from the variable resistance media and thus increases ssi 1 output.

ner, asthe load is thrown on, an effect is exertedupon the core-11 due to the current in the coil 23, which substantially neutralizes the efi'ect due to the increased current through the coil 12 which is due to the decrease in resistance of the external circuit of the genorator. In this manner the additional current is prevented from having a regulating and reducing effect upon the resistance device 3, and hence the generator is permitted to furnish suflicient current for the lamps without cutting down the charging current for the storage battery. Connected about the terminal battery 20 is a relay comprising a potential or voltmeter coil 28 controlling the position of a relay contact'member 27. This member, which is connected as by the conductor 28 with one pole of the hattery is adapted alternatively to make connection with the contacts 29 and 30 and respec tively excite the magnets 31 and 32 bridged between these contacts and the remaining pole of the battery. Magnets 31 and 32 con trol the position of a pivoted contact mom.-

her connected with the conductor 28 and permanently magnetized to rest normally against the core of one or theother of the magnets. In the position shown, the member 33 completes a circuit with'a contact member 34 through a conductor 35 and a coil or solenoid 36 and thence tothe opposite pole of the storage battery. Coil 36 has movably mounted therein a core 37 con nected with the lever 8.

The operation of the mechanism last described -is substantially as follows :Durin any stage of the charging of the battery before it has reached its full voltage, contact member 33 will be in open circuit position, either by reason of its normal tendency or on account of the closing of the circuitthrough magnet 31, in the event of the battery potential being low enough to permit the closing of the circuit with the contact Upon the battery, however, being charged to its full voltage, the coil 26 will so affect the contact member 27 as to com plete a circuit through the magnet 32 which will in turn complete a circuit through the coil 36. The latter coil will exert a powerful effect upon the lever'8 and swing the same so as to draw the yoke 5 away from the resistance media t, and materially increase the resistance in the field of the generator. In this manner the current is reduced in the field of the generator the output thereof reduced or substantially terminated. action results not only in preventing the generation of useless current, with a corresponding load on the train, but also in the absolute prohibition of any current being forced through the charged cells. The. lamps are then operated by the battery, the generator giving no output, thus avoiding waste of current andunnecessary wear upon the parts. When, however, the voltage or the battery falls below a cert in predetermined limit, the contact member 27 will complete the circuit through the magnet 31 which will, in turn, open the circuit through coil 36. mitted to again move toward the variable resistance media 4: and compress thesame in such manner as to again build up the field of the generator 1. This action, however, due'to. the connection of the yoke with the dashpot 12, is gradual, and hence permits the generator safely to resume action, irrespective of the speed at which its armature is being driven. In this manner, the normal charging conditions are again resumed, the regulating mechanism acting to control the current output as above set forth.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the generator 1, its field 2 and the variable resistance device 3 are the same as shown in Fig. 1 and are connected in the same man nor. in this instance, however, the insulated portion 7 of the yoke is mounted upon a bell crank lever 38- pivoted at 39 and carryinga core 40 about which the coil 41 is wound, said coil being connected in the main external. circuit of the generator, which circuit is branched at 4.2 to provide a continuously closed fine wire coil as surrounding .a core 44, and the remaining branch of the circuit leads through a coil 45, likewise surrounding the core 44, and to a terminal 46 adapted to be connected with a second terminal 47 by a contact member 48 upon said core being drawn upwardly by the f'orceof the surrounding coil -or coils. From the ter minal 47 the circuit leadsthrough the storage or secondary battery-20 to the remaining pole of the generator. These circuits are substantially the same as the corresponding circuits shown and described with respect to Fig. l. A conductor 49 is connected with the main external generator circuit and leads through a coil 50 wound differentially with respect to coil ll about the core 40 from which it extends to the lamps or translatin g devices 24 from which the circuit is completed through conductor 25 to the remaining poles of the battery and of the generator in a manner similar to that described with respect to Fig. 1. In this construction, as

the load is thrown on a differential etiect is exerted upon the core 40, due to the current in the coil 50, which substantially neutralizes the ellectdue to the increase of the current through the coil 4:], due to the decrease in the resistance of the external circuit ot' the generator. in this manner, the additionalcurrentis prevented from having a regulating and reducing effect upon the resistance device 3 and, therefore, the generator is permitted to furnish sufiicient current for the lamps without cutting down the charging current of the storage battery. A relay comprising a potential or voltmeter coil 2'3, contact member 27, magnets 31 .and 32, and contact members 33 and 34:, is connected to the terminals of the battery in the same manner as already described with respect to Fig. 1, said relay controlling the i 'cuit through the coil 36, which surrounds the core 37, which in this instance is connected with thebell crank lever 38. The operation of this relay and its associated coil is the same as already described with respect to the similar parts shown in Fig. '1. .n order that no current from the battery can pass through the coil when the core sis-l is n its lowered position, in which positien the generator is cut out, a conductor connec' to conductor if leads to a con,- tact point '52, adapted when the core is in its lowered position to be engaged by a pivoted contact member connected to the conductor which leads to the lamps 2i, as shown in full lines in this figure. lVhen the current in the coil 48 reaches a predei eri'nined strength, the core will be drawn upward, as indicated in dotted lines, brealo ing the short circuit by lifting the Contact member 53 from the contact point 52 and allowing the current from the battery to flow through the coil 50. The object of this short circuit device is to permitt-he generator voltage to pick up when the generator is to be thrown into circuit, which it would not satisfactorily do it the battery currentwere permitted to pass through the coil 50, as this current would tend to rotate the bell crank lever about its pivot in such a manner to separate the carbon disks and therefore increase the resistance of the generator field circuit. v

to be noted that the expression shunt-wound with resgcct to the generator, is used throughout the claims in its well ltnown sense as denoting a generator having a field winding connected substantially across the generator terminals, whereby this winding derives current from the encralor whenever the generator is in ac- "ion. as many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, ashunt wound generator, :1. storagebattery connected to be charged thereby, a

resistance device connected with the field circuit of said generator, means comprising a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein increasing to so atl'ect said resistance as to weaken the generator field and normally to maintain said current substantially constant, a voltage coil positioned and adapted upon being energized to add its effect to said current coil in affecting said variable resistance to weaken said generator field, a circuit in parallel or shunt relation to said voltage coil, and a relay controlled in accordance with the voltage of said battery and-adapted to break said shunt circuit and to thereupon cause an effective current to flow in said voltage coil.

" 2. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, a shunt wound generator, a storagebattery connected to be charged thereby, a

variable resistance medium comprising a plurality of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance With the pressure thereon, said resistance medium being connected with the field circuit of said generator, a member through which pressure is exerted upon said medium, a pivoted bellcrank lever one arm of which is connected with said member, magnetic actuating means connected with theol'her arm of said lever, means comprising a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein increasing to attract said actuating meansand so vary the pressure upon said resistance as to weaken the generator field, and normally to maintain said currentsubstantially constant, said resistance being normally free from other effective electrical influence, a voltage coil coacting with said actuating means and adapted upon being energized to add its effect to saidcurrent coil in varying the pres sure upon said resistance to weaken the genorator field, and voltage controlled means adapted to direct an effective flow of current through said voltagecoil.

'3. In c'ar lighting apparatus, in combina- I rially connected between said generator and said cattery adapted upon the current therein increasing to so coact with said actuating means as todecrease the pressure upon said resistance and normally to maintain said current substantially constant, said resistance being normally free from other effective electrical influence, a voltage coil positioned and adapted upon being energized to add its effect to said current coil. in decreasing the pressure upon said resistance, and a relay controlled in accordance with the volt.

age of said battery adapted to control a shcuit whereby an effective current is directed through said voltage coil upon said battery reaching a certain state or" charge.

' ln car lighting apparatus, in combination, an electric generator, a storage-battery connected to be'charged thereby, a variable resistance medium comprising a plurality of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with pressure thereon, said resistance medium being connected in the field circuit of said generator, a current coil serially connected between said generator and said battery, a voltage coil connected across the charging circuit, separate movable cores respectively coasting with said coils, and means mechanically connected with said cores'and tending normally to compress said medium and adapted upon either of said cores being attracted to tend to weaken the pressure upon. said medium.

5. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, an electric generator, a storage-batteary-connected to be charged thereby, a resistance device connected with the field circuit of said generator, a current coil serially connected between said generator and. said battery, a voltage coil, means adapted upon the current in said first coil exceeding nor- ;mal value to so affect said resistance as to weaken the generator field and thus tend to maintain the, current therein substantially constant, means rendered effective upon the battery reaching a certain state of charge adapted to coact with said. yoltage coil to adapt it to Weaken the field of said generator, a lamp-load connected-across said battery, av coil connected in series with the lamps and adapted to oppose said first coil in its effect upon said resistance, and means rains for said generator comprising a coil connected to be traversed by current flowing to said lamps and adapted to erzert a magnetic effectupon the remainder of said regulating apparatus, and means adapted automatically to complete a shunt about said 0011 upon the voltage of said generator falling below that of said battery.

7. In car lightingapparatus, in combine 'tion, an electric generator, at storagsbat tery adapted to be charged thereby, lamps connected across battery, regulating apparatus for said generator comprising a coilconnected to be traversed by current flowing to said lamps and adapted to exert magnetic eiiiect upon the remainder of said regulating apparatus, means adapted to disconnect said generator from said battery upon the voltage of the generator falling below that of said battery, and means meeting wit: said disconnecting means and controlled thereby and ed to render said coil ineffective upon said generator being disconnect-ed v 8. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, an electric generator, a storage-battery adapted to be charged thereby, lamps connected across =aid battery, a resistance counccted to the field circuit of said generator, means adapted to vary the effect of said resistance and vary the field strength of said generator, a coil adapted to he traversed by current flowing to said lamps and adapted to coact magnetically with said varying means, and means adapted automatically to complete a shunt, about said coil upon the voltage of said generator falling below. that of said battery,

9. In car ligh'i g tion,-an electric generator, a storage-lmltory adapted to" be charged thereby, lamps connected across said battery, a variable resist ance medium connected in the field circuit of said generator,a current coil, means comprising a member of magnetic material co acting with said current coil and tending to increase said resistance as said member is attracted, and means adapted automatically to complete a shunt about said coil upon the voltage of said generator falling below that of said battery.

10. In car lighting apparatus, in combina tion, on electric generator, a strings-battery adapted to be charged thereby, lamps connected across said battery, a variable resist ance medium comprising a plurality of con tacting members adapted to vary tl'i'eir agn apparatus, in combinagregate resistance with pressure thereon,

'said resistance medium being connected in tlltilffitfltl circuit of sald generator, a current ance medium comprising a plurality of con-' tacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with pressure thereon, said resistance medium being connected in the field circuit of said generator, a current coil, a magnetic member positioned in the tield of said coil, means coacting with said magnetic member and variable resistance tending to vary-the pressure upon said resistance witlra variation in current flowing in said coil, a switch comprising a voltage coil. connected across said generator and a movable core having a contact member at. one end thereof, said switch being adapted to disconnect said generator by movement of said contact member upon the generator voltage falling below that of said battery. a

shunt about said first coil, and i'ucans ccacting with the remaining end of said core adapted to complete said shunt upon said switch being opened.

, 12. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, an electric gl'ltil'fltol', a storage-battery adapted to becharged thereby, lamps conn cted across said battery, a variable resistance medium comprising'a plurality of contacting members. adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with pressure thereon, said resistance medium being connected in the field circuit of said generator, a current coil, a'magnetic member positioned in the field of said coil,-means coacting with said magnetic member and variable resistance adapted to vary the pressure upon said resistance with a variation in current flowing in said coil and'tending normally to co-m press saidmedium, a switch comprising a voltage coil connected across said generator and a movable core havingacontact member at one end thereof, said switch being adapted to disconnect said generator upon its voltage falling below that of said battery by move ment of said contact member, a shunt about said first coil, means coacting with the remaining end of said core adapted to complete said shunt upon said switch being opened, a second voltage coil, and means state of charge to render said second voltage coil effective in reducing the pressure upon said variable resistance medium.

13. In car lightingapparatus, in combina tion, a generator having a shunt field winding, a charged thereby, a resistance medium operativcly connected with the field circuit of said generator, means comprising a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein tending to increase, to so afi'ect said-resistance as to weaken the field of said gen erator and normally to maintain said current substantially constant, said resistance being normally free from other efiective electrical influence, a normally inetlective voltage coil adapted upon becoming effective to control said generator current by acting on the resistance of the generator field cir; cuit, and means adapted upon the voltage of said battery attaining a certain value to render said voltage coil effective in controlling said generator current.

14. In car lighting apparatus, in combination, a generator having a shunt field winding, a storage battery connected to be charged thereby, a resistance medium operatively connected with the field circuit of said generator and comprising a plurality of contacting members adapted to vary their aggregate resistance with the pressure thereon, means comprising a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein tending to increaseto so vary the pressure upon said resistance as to weaken the generator field and normally to maintain said current substantially constant, said resistance being normally free from other etlective electrical influence, a normally inefi'ective voltage coil positioned and adapted upon being energized to add its ettect to said current coil. in affecting said variable resistance, and arelay controlled in accordance with the voltage of said battery adapted to control a circuit whereby an effective current is diregted through said voltage coil upon saidbattery reaching acertain state of charge.

-' 15(In car lighting apparatus, in combination, agenerator having a shunt field winding, 2 storage battery connected to be charged thereby, a resistance mediumoperatively connected with the field circuit of said generator, means comprising-a coil serially connected between said generator and said battery adapted upon the current therein tending to increase to so affect said resistance as to weaken the generator field. and maintain the generator current substantially constant, said resistancebeing normally free from other efi'eetive' electrical influence, a Voltage coil adapted upon being rendered efiective to co-act with said first coil in varying said resistance and voltage controlled means adapted to direct an effective current through said voltage coil upon said batteryreaching a certain stateof charge.

16. In car lighting'alp pal'aubiis;'in-combination, a generator hav ng. a shuntfield winding, a storagei beitiefi connected to be charged thereby, a resistance medium operat'ively connected with" the field circuit of said generator, saidmedium comprisin a plurality'of contacting members adapt'e to vary their aggregate resistance with pres: sure tllereenfmleen's comprising a'coil serially Connected between said generator and I said battery adapted upon the current therein tending-to increase in so afiect said resistanee asto Weaken the generatorfield and maintain the generator current substantially I constant, said resisteneefbeing normallysfree from other eflective electricalinfiuence, a

normally ineffective voltage coil adapted" upon" being rendered efiective m eogofiwith s'a-idQfirst coil "in controlling the pressure upon s-i'cl Variable resistance. 5nd 3, voltage controlledgreley adapted to divertv an' efieeti ve current through said voltagejizoil upon said battery reaehing a certain state of charge. 1 v In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

:in the 'pre'senc'eyof two Witnesses.

' HARRISON e. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

' G. R. JEWE rr, E, E. A1 .LBEE.'

Copies-of this patent may be oiltained for five cents each; by addressing the Commissioner of latents M. Washington, I). (3. 

